Deconstructing Borders, Territories, and Toponyms: Cartographic Designs in the Political Disputed Territory of Sakhalin

• Main Author: Sui, Zhaoxu
• Other Authors: Fish, Carolyn
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Oregon 2024
• Subjects: Border; Cartography; Contestation; Sakhalin; Territory; Toponym
• Online Access: https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/xmlui/handle/1794/29737

In this research, I aim to deconstruct and quantify the cartographic designs of maps of Sakhalin Island—a politically contested area between Russia, China, and Japan. This will enhance understanding of how the design of borders, background fill colors, and toponyms (place names) are presented and used to advance territorial claims. I conducted a quantitative content analysis of 200 maps in four languages, identifying key cartographic designs such as border dash effects, fill color visual variables, and toponym types. I found that uncertain designs of borders and territorial fill colors are more frequently adopted by Japanese map makers to express the neutrality of the contested region of Southern Sakhalin and question Russian’s legitimate control, and uncertain designs of toponyms (double labeling) appeared more in Chinese and Japanese maps to signify their historical presence and control of the Island. All these are indicative of specific ways that the cartographic design of borders strokes, territorial fill-colors, and toponyms serve to assert and facilitate political stances and claims towards the contested territory of Sakhalin.